Changes in wave dynamics at the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Proper during 1993-2008

• Main Authors: Kelpšaitė, Loreta, Dailidienė, Inga, Soomere, Tarmo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Lithuanian coast; Curonian Spit; Baltic Sea; Boreal Environment Research
• Online Access: https://vb.ku.lt/KU:ELABAPDB2510812&prefLang=en_US

Using data gathered by visual wave observations at three Lithuanian coastal observation sites during 1993-2008, we make an attempt to relate the recent changes in the intensity of coastal processes on the Lithuanian coast to changes in the local wave regime. There exist considerable interannual variations in the overall wave activity but no statistically significant trends in wave heights for the study period. The directional distribution of wave approach directions has become considerably narrower since about 2002. This feature is most prominent at Palanga where since 2002 almost all waves have approached from SW. This change apparently leads to a decrease in the sediment supply to the Curonian Spit and to a certain starvation of the Lithuanian coast.